Our Featured Sock Designer for June 2021
We’re so excited to have Caroline Parrini from Nice, France joining us from our Crochet Socks box for June 2021.
Her Fawkes socks pattern is gorgeous, and I think it will pair really well with any of this month’s colourways.
Pattern Statistics:
Yarn Required: Fingering Weight
Yardage: 289 – 437 yards (264 – 400 m)
Adaptable to different sizes? Yes.
As a part of becoming a Featured Designer with Wool Interrupted, we interview each designer about their life, design process and thoughts about the yarn industry. See Caroline’s interview below.
What the best part of living in France?
It is a beautiful place, between the sea and the mountains, with a lot of lovely places to go to. However, the best part is that I live close to my family, my in-laws and my friends. It is also close to Italy, where I have relatives. As you can see, I’m a family person…
What dwelling type do you live in?
An apartment.
Do you have a dedicated yarn space?
Yarn is all around the home, stored in nice boxes, that make you want to open them and do some yarn diving; which is, I think, the best part of starting a new project.
When did your love of yarn start?
It started as a kid, because I used to stay (and still stay) a lot with my grandma, who is a really skilled knitter, probably better than I will ever be. She taught me how to knit when I was 6 or so, and crochet a few years later. I always loved diving (here we go again) into her stash and used her leftovers to make clothes for my dolls. I stopped for a few years, and began again at highschool, and never stopped again.
What’s your favourite yarn weight to work with and why?
I do love fingering yarn, it creates light garments or accessories and is at the same time quite warm. I suppose that I got that taste from my grandma because her own stash was mainly composed of fingering yarn. That being said, it doesn’t mean I don’t have a go at lighter or heavier yarn.
What do you design primarily?
I primarily design accessories and socks.
What are your top three selling or downloaded designs?
It would be The Burrow, Fawkes (featured in June 2021) and Captain Lemon.
How do you start a design? Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspiration from everything and everywhere. It can be something a family member or friend tells me, nature, architecture, something I see in movies or read in books.
Then, I’ll dive into some books to find the stitch or the motif that will help me create what’s in my mind and after that, it’s all about finding the perfect yarn in my stash before putting things together! (There is also some maths involved, writing the pattern as I go and starting over if I’m not satisfied with what I did) Also, when the sample is not for me (and it happens quite often), it is about thinking of the future owner, mostly a family member, and his or her tastes.
Do you ever need test knitters or crocheters? If so, how do you find them?
All my patterns are carefully tested. I ask for testers in dedicated groups on Ravelry, or previous testers.
What’s your favourite yarn composition? Which fibres do you like to work with?
It is easier saying what I don’t like instead of what I like… I dislike acrylic and fluffy yarns such as mohair or angora (I’m allergic to the last one).
What do you think is the best part of knitting or crochet? How does it help you?
Knitting and crochet are meditative and boost self-esteem. These crafts helped me a lot when I had difficult or painful moments. They also allow you to create something that really matches your desires, may that be about color, shape etc. They bring me such joy, especially when I make something for a dear one. I haven’t found a better way to say “I love you” to a person I care for.
What do you think the future of knitting and crochet is? After COVID is over, do you think the craft will stay in the forefront of people’s minds?
I do hope it will stay in people’s minds. Knitting and crochet have been trends that come and go. It wasn’t trendy a couple of years ago in France, and now is. I imagine that people will keep on knitting and / or crocheting if these make them happy and if they enjoy it.
What’s the best yarn trend? What’s the worst?
Oh, that’s a tricky question… I don’t believe in the best or the worst trends. I really believe in what makes you happy, in trying out new techniques if you want to. It is really a question that may vary from one person to another, and has a lot of parameters involved.
Who are your favourite yarn designers? Who inspires you?
They are too many to say… I’m particularly grateful to Heidi Kirrmaier because one of her designs was the very first English pattern I made. Thanks to her and since then, I have never made anything written, or designed, in another language!
To make your own Fawkes Socks in June 2021, click the link below to snag a socks while supplies last. Each of our featured designers is paid directly per box sold.
If you’re interested in becoming one of our featured designers, please contact us at info@woolinterrupted.com